*review, updated with photos*
This review is specific to Minaret Academy's Montessori Program. This is our first year with the school after coming from a different Montessori program (which we LOVED), and overall, we have had a positive experience at Minaret with recognition of some room for improvement. This will be a long review, but please do read through it if you are considering this program. Please remember transitioning to a new school is always difficult and takes at least a few months for children to fully settle in. The challenges they will face here are not unique to Minaret and will likely be faced anywhere (potential behavioral concerns, finding new friends, learning to find their voice in a classroom setting, etc). The beauty of Minaret's Montessori is that the current director is incredibly knowledgeable about child development and is always ready to work with parents regarding any of their concerns. Anyways, I'll break it down by pros/room for improvement as I've experienced them. I am happy to chat with anyone who may be considering this school and is looking for more information!
Pros: The new director Ms. Mai is incredible and is clearly working so hard to improve this program. She is attentive to parents/students, sharp, kind, well spoken, and dedicated to the Montessori method. What I appreciate is she is always open to hearing our concerns. While she encourages parents to make their own observations of the program/teachers she is also candid about each classroom environment (example: different personality types, teaching method of the teacher, etc). We did face some growing pains at the beginning of the school year, coming from our previous school, however, we worked together with the teacher and Ms. Mai to address these issues. I do believe Ms. Mai has the students' interest at heart. The curriculum challenges students to learn academically, spiritually, and linguistically while giving them enough room to be themselves.The staff and PTO work hard to foster a sense of community for families attending by putting together events for the children and asking parents to be heavily involved. In terms of the physical learning space, the Montessori rooms are large and have all the engaging Montessori activities.
Room for improvement: We really need a larger outdoor play area for our young children. Further, it would be nice to see some updates in the classrooms to help with cleanliness. Cleaner rugs/carpets or even removing carpet would be great, as would cleaning up the activity shelves from pen, marker, paint marks. I would love to also see us offer alternate childcare during winter break, spring break, etc for parents who are not as available to take so much time off. Additionally, I would love to see a monthly or quarterly open forum for parents to collectively meet with Ms. Mai as the director where she can share updates, hear parents concerns, etc. She does send out a monthly newsletter and this does a great job of updating parents.
Overall, it is a good school. Your child will be well loved here, they will foster a sense of community, and they will definitely learn. Growing pains will require you as a parent to be engaged, discuss with teacher/director, and be open minded to change. Best of luck to you all in your decision making process! read more